New contact lens bill aims to protect patients, reduce burden on doctors
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The recently introduced Contact Lens Rule Modernization Act would update prescription verification requirements by prohibiting passive robocalls and changing patient notification processes.
The Federal Trade Commission’s recently updated Contact Lens Rule was criticized by industry and professional organizations, according to a press release from the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (APS), because, among other issues, the rule now requires eye care professionals to retain patients’ signed prescription acknowledgments.
The proposed modernization act would allow clinicians to notify patients instead through signage in their offices.
In addition, the APS said in the release that while it supports the goals of the Contact Lens Rule, it is concerned that the passive verification provision, “often exploited by certain sellers through the use of robocalls,” can jeopardize patient’s eye health.
“The introduction of the Contact Lens Rule Modernization Act is yet another indication that Congress has heard the concerns of patient safety advocates and is intent on acting to safeguard contact lens-wearing patients,” Deanna Alexander, OD, chair of the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety, said in the release. “Embracing modern technology for class II or class III medical device prescriptions will strengthen the doctor-patient relationship and protect patient safety, making the Contact Lens Rule Modernization Act a common sense solution that can garner broad, bipartisan support.”
The changes received bicameral, bipartisan support and were introduced by Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), the only optometrist in the chamber. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care said in a separate press release that it also lobbied for the changes.
Editor’s Note: On Oct. 1, we corrected the state of Sen. John Boozman's party affiliation from Arizona to Arkansas. The Editors regret this error.
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